Water-tube boiler



F. L. KALLAM WATER TUBE BOILER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 22, 1945INVENTOR FLQYD L. Kmmm ATTORNEY N 314, 1950 F. L. KALLAM 2,

WATER-TUBE BOILER Filed Oct. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fig- 4 INVENTORFLOYD L- KHLLFIM ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE WATER-TUBE BOILER Floyd L. Kallam, Pasadena, Calif.

Application October 22, 1945, Serial No. 623,722

14 Claims.

The invention relates to a water tube boiler of the upright type.

A general purpose is to provide an upright boiler Which is soconstructed that a truly free convection circulation is assured therein.

Another object is to provide an improved boiler having both the headchamber and down flow tubes therefrom outside of the heat exchangingzone.

A further object is to provide a boiler having its tube elementsarranged for ready cleaning in place, and their ready replacement.

An added object is to provide a boiler structure in which majorexpansion efiects are arranged to take place without strain ordistortion of the structure, and generally downwardly.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in thefollowing description of typical embodiments thereof, and in theaccompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a partly sectional elevation of a boiler structure embodyingthe features of present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the broken line 22 in Figure1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section taken on an upright plane at the line3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a partially sectional elevation of another embodiment of theboiler.

Figure 5 is a plan view taken at the broken line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section at 66 in Figure 4.

In the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the water and steamcarrying elements of the boiler are provided in symmetrical relation toa cylindrical combustion and heat-exchange chamber I which is providedabove a gas burner 8. The chamber I is provided within a tubularinsulated Wall 9 comprising an outer shell I0, an inner shell II, andsuitable insulation I2 filling the space between the shells, said shellsbeing coaxial, and the axis thereof comprising the axis of symmetry ofthe boiler. An upper wall portion 9 is stepped inwardly, and isconnected at its top with a flue pipe I3.

At a level thereof below the step of the combustion chamber wall 9, theshell I is provided with a circumferential bead or flange I4 which ispermanently fixed to it, and the bead I4 is arranged to rest upon thetop of a support ring I encircling the shell below it. The ring I 5 ismounted at the top of a plurality of posts I6 having feet H at theirbottoms for engaging a supporting floor for the boiler structure, saidstructure, except for the burner 8, being suspended from the supportring I5 in spaced relation to said supporting floor. The gas burner 8 isshown as independently supported on feet I8.

A continuous tubular member I9 providing a chamber 2| is carried uponthe top of the support ring I5 outwardly of and encircling the outershell II) of the wall 9, said member preferably being of torical outlineas shown. Opposed face portions of the ring and member arecomplementarily formed to provide for a centered seating of the memberon the ring and to extend about the wall of the combustion chamber I.The member I9 comprises a head element of the boiler from the top ofwhich generated steam is taken through a delivery pipe 29, and in whicha predetermined water level is arranged to be automatically maintained.

As particularly illustrated in Figure 1, water under suitable pressureis arranged to be delivered to the chamber 2| of the member I9 through apipe 22 having a float-controlled valve 23 interposed therein, and saidpipe preferably has also interposed therein a pre-heating coil 24disposed within the reduced upper portion 9' of the combustion chamberwall. The pipe 22enters the head member I9 at a top point thereof andextends downwardly in the chamber to a point well below the desiredwater level in the chamber. The control of the water input valve 23 maybe efiected ;by an appropriate link-and-lever connection with afloat-operated arm 25 extending from a float housing 26 mounted at theside of the member I9, The float chamber of the housing 26 is connectedwith the water in the chamber 2I at a bottom point thereof by means of apipe 27, and is connected at its top to the steam space of the chamberby means of a pipe 27'.

If desired, a pressure-released safety valve 28 may be provided in thepipe 27', or at some other upper point of the head member. Also, thelevel of water in the chamber 2! maybe directly ascertained by observinga conventional water glass 29 provided at the side of the member I9 andconnected to the chamber at points above and below the normal waterlevel for the chamber. The indicated float-controlled supply valve 23and safety valve 28 and water glass 29, being old and wellknown devicesin the art, will not be further described herein.

It will now be particularly noted that the circulation of water for thegeneration of steam with the present boiler is arranged to be effectedthrough downcomer and upcomer tubes or pipes 3| and 32 respectively,with corresponding said tubes connected at their bottoms to provide U-bends comprising individual closed connections between bottom and upperpoints of the chamber 8, as shown. Also, the connection of the tubes 3|and 32 to provide a U-tube connection between the water and steamportions of the boiler head is preferably such that the tubes proper maybe straight, are disposed for their ready cleaning in place, and may beindividually replaced without requiring a dismantling of the boiler,assembly.

As particularly shown, the tubes 31 are each connected between an arm ofa T-connection fitting 33 at its top and an arm of a double-T connectionfitting 36 at its bottom. Short tubes connected to the bottom of thehead l9 extends to a connection with the stem portion of each fitting33, and the upwardly directed arm of the latter fitting is sealedlyclosed by a removable plug 36. Each tube 32 extends between a lower armof a T-connection fitting 37 and an upwardlydirected arm of the double-Tfitting 34. The stem portion of the T fitting 37 is connected with thechamber 2| of the head I9 by means of a nipple 38 extending through thehead wall to discharge at a point above the normal water level in thechamber.

It will be noted that each T 31 is disposed above the radial shoulderprovided in the wall 9 at the base of the reduced wall portion 9, thearrangement being such that the tube 3| extends through 1 the shoulderand along the inner face of the wall 9 to its connection with the Tmember 34 which is disposed below the bottom edge of the wall. Theupwardly directed arm of each fitting 37 is normally closed by aremovable plug 39, and the downwardly directed arms of each double T 3 3are normally closed by removable plugs ll and G2 in line with the tubesSI and 32 respectively. The plugs 35 and 39 and ll and 52 may bethreadedly or otherwise removably retained in sealing engagement withthe fitting arms which mount them.

It is to be noted that a removal of the plugs 39 and 42 of an upcomertube 32 provides a straight passage in the line of the tube whereby anappropriate cleaning tool may be applied through the tube. Eachconnecting pipe 35 at the top of a downcomer tube 3! extends generallyradially from its point of connection to the head for such a distancethat the line of the tube 3| passes laterally beyond the head, andthereby facilitates a cleaning of this tube when the plugs 36 and 42 areremoved from their fittings. The tubes 3| and 32 and the connecting pipe35 and the nipple 38 may have threaded or expanded connections in themembers which they engage, as may be preferred. Also, since the tubes 3!and 32 are straight, and are independently accessible, these tubes maybe individually replaced as may be required in the service of theboiler.

By reference to the disclosure of Figures 4 to 6, it will be noted thatthis embodiment difiers primarily from the first in that upcomer orriser tubes 82 and downcomer tubes Bl are connected at their bottomswith a torical manifold ring 84, and that the tubes 8| are fewer innumber than the tubes 82; the present ratio is one to six. The presentarrangement lacks the individual U-tube device of the first embodimentand is operatively less desirable, but has the advantage that lesstubing surface is exposed for possible heat losses outside of thecombustion chamber wall 59. The connections to the ring 84 at the bottomends of the tubes HI and 82 comprise T fittings 84 and 84" having theirdownwardly directed arms respectively closed by removable plugs 9| and92 for tube-cleaning purposes. Because the tubes 8| are fewer in numberthan the tubes 82, the effective cross-section of the fiow passagejointly provided by the tubes 8| must at least equal that provided bythe tubes 82.

At the top ends thereof, the tubes 8| and 82 are respectively connectedto the present head 69 through cross fittings 83 and T fittings 81, thefittings 83 being provided with top cleanout plugs 86 and with sidecleanout plugs 86 in line with the bores of connecting tubes comprisingstraight arms of the fittings extending to connections with the head 69,and the fittings 81 having cleanout plugs 89 at their tops. Except forthe provision of the manifold ring 84 at the bottoms of the tubes 8| and82, the present arrangement corresponds to that of the first embodimentin structure and operation and is therefore not further described.

With reference to the present device of supporting a boiler having itstubes upright, it is to be noted that the plane of the line of supportprovided by the support ring [5 preferably lies above the center ofgravity of the supported structure which is therefore suspended inplace, and that the line support of the suspended assembly permits itsfree thermal expansion axially thereof without distortion and generallydownwardly with, rather than upwardly against, gravity. Also, thepresent boiler structures providing for a free flow of fiuid to andthrough upright riser tubes which extend through a combustion chamber orother heated zone from which steamgenerating heat may be derivedcomprises a particularly eificient and inexpensive and durable structurefor the duty to be performed. While such is not specifically shown, itwill be understood that the fluid-carrying elements external to the heatexchanging chamber would, in practice, be provided with heat insulatingjackets for conserving the heat stored in the fluid therein.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the advantages of the construction and operation of thepresent device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art towhich this invention appertains. While I have described the features andprinciples of operation of assemblies which I now consider to comprisepreferred embodiments of my invention, I desire to have it understoodthat the showings are primarily illustrative, and that such changes anddevelopments may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of thefollowing claims.

1. In a water-tube boiler, an upright tubular shell stepped inwardlynear its top and defining a heat-exchanging chamber arranged for theupward flow of a heated fiuid therethrough, a boiler head encircling theshell at approximately the shell step level and providing the steamchamber of the boiler, downcomer tubes extending downwardly from thebottom of the boiler head externally of the shell, upcomer tubesconnecting the bottoms of the downcomer tubes with the steam chamber andarranged in a circle coaxial with the axis of the heat-exchangingchamber and adjacent the inside wall surface of the shell, a supportring encircling the larger shell portion at an upper level thereof andengaging the shell and boiler head for the support thereof therefrom,and support legs extending from the ring to a level below that of thebottom of the boiler assembly.

2. A structure in accordance with claim 2 having the upcomer tubesextending through the step of the shell and connected with the steamchamber at a level above the water level therein.

3. In a water-tube boiler, an upright tubular heat-insulated shellstepped radially inwardly near its top and providing a heat-exchangingchamber Within it arranged for the upward flow of heated gasestherethrough, a boiler head encircling the shell at approximately theshell step level and providing the steam chamber space of the boiler,downcomer tubes extending downwardly from the bottom of the boiler headexternally of the shell, upcomer tubes extending through theheat-exchanging chamber of the shell and transversely through the stepof the shell and connected with the steam chamber at its inner side, andconnections for the downcomer and upcomer tubes below the bottom of theshell.

4. In a water-tube boiler, an upright tubular heat-insulated shellstepped radially inwardly near its top and providing a heat-exchangingchamber within it arranged for the upward flow of a heated fluidtherethrough, a boiler head encircling the shell at approximately theshell step level and providing the steam chamber space of the boiler,downcomer tubes extending downwardly from the bottom of the boiler headexternally of the shell, and straight upcomer tubes connecting thebottoms of the downcomer tubes with the steam chamber and extendingthrough the heat-exchanging chamber and transversely through the step ofthe shell to a connection with the steam chamber at the inner side, theconnections for the upcomer tubes providing openable and normally closedopenings in axial alignment with the bores of their tubes to facilitatethe cleaning of the tubes in the boiler assembly.

5. In a water-tube boiler, an upright tubular heat-insulated shellstepped radially inwardly near its top and providing a heat-exchangingchamber within it arranged for the upward flow of heated gasestherethrough, a boiler head encircling the shell at approximately theshell step level and providing the steam chamber space of the boiler,downcomer tubes extending downwardly from the bottom of the boiler headexternally of the shell, and upcomer tubes connecting the bottom of thedowncomer tubes with the steam chamber and extending through the heat-5' exchanging chamber of the shell and transversely through the step ofthe shell to a connection with the steam chamber at its inner side, thedowncomer tubes being straight and extending from their connections withthe upcomer tubes in lines lying outwardly of the boiler head and theconnections for said tubes providing openable and normally closedopenings in axial alignment with the bores of the tubes to facilitatethe cleaning of the tubes in the boiler assembly.

6. In a continuously operating water-tube boiler, an upright tubularwall which is heat-insulated and provides a heat-exchanging chamberwithin it arranged for the upward flow of a heated fluid therethrough,a, boiler head encircling the wall at an upper level thereof andthermally removed from the heat-exchanging chamber and providing thesteam chamber of the boiler, means automatically operative to maintain afixed water level in the steam chamber, downcomer tubes extendingdownwardly from the bottom of the boiler head externally of the shell,and individual upcomer tubes independently connecting the bottoms of thedifferent downcomer tubes with the head chamber at a level above thewater level in the head chamber and extending through the heatexchanging chamber along the inside wall surface of the shell wherebythe connected pairs of downcomer and upcomer tubes provide mutuallyindependent U-tube assemblies for the convection circulation of waterfrom the bottom of the boiler head to the top thereof.

'7. In a continuously operating water-tube boiler, an upright tubularwall which is heat-insulated and provides a heat-exchanging chamberwithin it arranged for the upward flow of a heated fluid therethrough, aboiler head encircling the wall at an upper level thereof and thermallyremoved from the heat-exchanging chamber and providing the steam chamberof the boiler, means automatically operative to maintain a fixed waterlevel in the steam chamber, a manifold ring at the bottom of the wall,downcomer tubes extending downwardly from the bottom of the boiler headto the manifold externally of the shell, and upcomer tubes connectingthe manifold with the head chamber at a level above the water level inthe steam chamber and extending through the heat-exchanging chamber.

8. In a continuously operating water-tube boiler, an upright tubularshell providing a heatexchanging chamber within it, a boiler headencircling the shell at an upper level thereof and providing the steamchamber of the boiler, means automatically operative to maintain a fixedwater level in the steam chamber, downcomer tubes extending downwardlyfrom the bottom of the boiler head externally of the shell, and upcomertubes connecting the bottoms of the downcomer tubes with the headchamber at a level above the water level in the steam chamber anddisposed in the heat-exchanging chamber.

9. A structure in accordance with claim 8 provided with a support forthe boiler assembly engaging the shell in a single encircling line at alevel above the center of gravity of the assembly.

10. In a liquid-tube boiler, an upright tubular shell providing aheat-exchanging chamber within it arranged for the solely upward flow ofheated gases therethrough, a torical boiler head adjacent the top of theshell coaxial therewith and providing the vapor chamber space of theboiler, downcomer tubes extending downwardly from the boiler head solelyexternally of the shell, upcomer tubes extending downwardly from theboiler head solely internally of the shell, and means connecting thedowncomer and upcomer tubes at their bottoms.

11. A structure in accordance with claim 10 having the upcomer tubesconnected with the FLOYD L. KALLAM.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Bettington Oct. 25,1910 Number

